Salvation Army prepares thousands of Thanksgiving meals for Central Florida
WHAT A GREAT WAY TO START A TRADITION TO GIVE BACK. MEANTIME, FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, THE SALVATION ARMY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA HAS SERVED THOUSANDS OF THANKSGIVING MEALS FOR YEARS. VALENCIA COLLEGE AND THAT CULINARY PROGRAM THERE HAS BEEN BEHIND IT ALL. THEY’RE MAKING IT HAPPEN. AND WESH TWO MEAGHAN MACKEY IS LIVE FOR US IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO AT VALENCIA COLLEGE’S CAMPUS THERE. MEGAN, THIS REALLY IS A TRUE HOLIDAY ASSEMBLY LINE. YEAH IT IS. AND THEY HAVE MADE OVER 7000 MEALS THIS MORNING. THEY WERE UP BRIGHT AND EARLY EARLIER THAN MANY OF US THIS MORNING. SOME OF THEM TOLD ME THEY GOT UP BEFORE 3:00 THIS MORNING TO PREP THESE MEALS. YOU CAN SEE THEY HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TURKEY LEFT. BUT IF YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN SEE THEY’RE PULLING OUT THE LAST OF THAT TURKEY. AND I’M ACTUALLY JOINED THIS MORNING BY CHEF TOM. TOM, TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS OPERATION AND KIND OF WHAT WENT INTO THIS THROUGHOUT THIS MORNING. WELL, WE STARTED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN WE STARTED RECEIVING PRODUCTS. YOU’RE TALKING 2,000 POUNDS OF TURKEY THAT NOT HAS TO BE PROCESSED AND SLICED AND PANNED UP AND HEATED. AND SO JUST THE TURKEY ALONE IS A IS AN ENDEAVOR. OF COURSE, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER 2,000 POUNDS OF MASHED POTATOES, 2,000 POUNDS OF STUFFING, 1,600 POUNDS OF GRAVY. YOU KNOW, THERE’S JUST A LOT GOING ON. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AND YOU GUYS HAVE STUDENTS HERE. YOU HAVE FACULTY AS WELL AS VOLUNTEERS. TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR VALENCIA COLLEGE TO DO THIS AND WHY YOU GUYS GET BACK TO THE SALVATION ARMY EVERY THANKSGIVING. WELL, IT’S TWO PART FOR THE STUDENTS. THEY GET TO BE PART OF SOMETHING THAT’S A VERY LARGE QUANTITY. SEEING THAT, BEING PART OF THAT, SEEING HOW WE FUNCTION IN A QUANTITY, FOOD PRODUCTION. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT THEY GET TO HELP OUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE A MEAL TODAY. AND SO THAT MAKES US FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THAT. YEAH. IT’S A FRESH WARM MEAL. WE SAW YOU GUYS PREPPING ALL MORNING JUST FINISHING IT OFF. AND I’M TOLD THAT IT’S NOT EVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED OR STRUGGLING WITH MEALS. IT’S FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE ALONE ON THE HOLIDAY. SO THAT’S GOING TO BE HAPPENING LATER ON THIS MORNING. BUT ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? ANY WAY PEOPLE CAN GET BACK? CAN YOU GET A GREEN BAY PACKER CAMERAMAN, PLEASE? I KNOW JERRY’S A BIG DALLAS COWBOYS FAN, SO OF COURSE THEY PLAY EVERY THANKSGIVING. BUT THANK YOU. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE. YES HAPPY THANKSGIVING. REPORTING LIV
Salvation Army prepares thousands of Thanksgiving meals for Central Florida
Updated: 8:35 AM EST Nov 27, 2025
The Salvation Army is keeping its tradition going by making thousands of meals for people in Central Florida.They are teaming up with Valencia College’s culinary school to prepare 7,000 meals. They are packing a variety of dishes, including turkey, mashed potatoes, and pies. Valencia College said this isn’t just about holiday giving, but it’s a hands-on lesson these students can’t get anywhere else.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
The Salvation Army is keeping its tradition going by making thousands of meals for people in Central Florida.
They are teaming up with Valencia College’s culinary school to prepare 7,000 meals.
They are packing a variety of dishes, including turkey, mashed potatoes, and pies.
Valencia College said this isn’t just about holiday giving, but it’s a hands-on lesson these students can’t get anywhere else.